Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite 710 Electric Toothbrush Review

The Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite 710 is a mid-range electric toothbrush that whitens teeth (… apparently), cleans beautifully and features a modern design that makes it easy to clean, easy to use and easy to store.

UPDATE: This is a review of an older iteration of the HealthyWhite 710 brush. A new version, featuring a sturdier charger that offers storage for multiple brush heads, a clean new look, sensitive mode and a hard travel case, is now available for sale. I’ll revise this review as soon as I can, but in the meantime,

Introducing the Sonicare HealthyWhite 710

Lighter, more modern design

The Sonicare HealthyWhite 710 is 30% smaller and lighter than the Sonicare Essence. It uses a Li-Ion battery, which means a noticeably lighter brush with a longer battery life. Also to its credit, the slimmer handle is more comfortable to hold than older models (particularly for people with smaller hands) and has built-in rubber grips that keep the toothbrush from slipping during use.

Smartimer and Quadpacer technology

Like other Sonicare models, the HealthyWhite 710 comes with a built-in two-minute timer that helps ensure your brushing regimen lasts the recommended length of time. Quadpacer interrupts that two minutes every thirty seconds, letting you know when to move on to the next quadrant of your mouth. It does this by stopping the brush motor. If you’re expecting a beep, there isn’t one.

Clean and White mode

Will using the HealthyWhite 710 whiten your teeth? Very likely. It’s a quality electric toothbrush. You can expect noticeable results. But here’s the kicker: will the HealthyWhite’s Clean and Whitemode whiten your teeth? You know what, meet me in the “Stuff to Consider…” section for this one.

At last, no more weird gunk.

If you read my review of the Sonicare Essence 5600, you’ll remember that the Essence (and other, older Sonicare models) suffered from a design issue that allowed water, saliva and toothpaste to become trapped in the handle if not properly cleaned. The result was often a stinky, unhygienic mess — less than fun, when you’re trying to use it to keep yourself clean.

Sonicare HealthyWhite uses a different style of brush head — the ProResults head — that removes this inconvenience. They snap in easily, cost less, and result in a lot less cleanup. Unlike other brushes, there are no nooks and crannies to trap water and other gunk. You’ll want to clean it out occasionally (snap off the brush head and give it a scrub) and dry it after use, all the same.

Brush head replacement

Like all Sonicare brushes, the HealthyWhite 710’s brush heads will have to be replaced every three to four months. ProResults brush heads actually come with a built-in reminder. When the dark blue is bleached from their bristles, you know it’s time to switch out the old brush head for a fresh one.

HealthyWhite is also compatible with DiamondClean replacement heads (used for the more expensive brushes), if you like those better.

No more voltage converter.

If you travel regularly, you’ll be happy to know that the travel charger provided with the Sonicare HealthyWhite 710 electric toothbrush will run on both 110v and 220v current. You’ll still need an adapter for the plug when you’re on the go, but you’ll be able to leave the clunky voltage converter at home. One sour note, though — the HealthyWhite 710 doesn’t include a travel case. If you’re willing to spend a little more, the HealthyWhite R732 does.

HealthyWhite 710 or HealthyWhite R732?

The HealthyWhite 710 and the HealthyWhite R732 are very similar toothbrushes — so similar that there’s no point in talking about them separately — but there are a few key differences between them.

The R732 comes with a “Sensitive” cleaning mode, intended to provide a gentle but thorough clean for sensitive teeth and gums. The package also includes a second ProResults brush head (one’s compact, one’s standard), two hygienic travel caps, and a “deluxe” charger (meaning that, unlike the 710 version, it comes with a cord wrap). The R732 also comes with a travel case, something missing from the 710 model.

Unsurprisingly, with all those extra bits and pieces, it’s more expensive than the standard 710 model. Whether or not the extra cost is worth it is up to you.

Stuff to consider…

Register your product and keep your receipts.

Sometimes products (usually, in the case of electric toothbrushes, the batteries) fail. Sonicare offers a two year warranty on its HealthyWhite toothbrushes, so take the extra step and fill out the paperwork to register your brush. If something happens before the warranty runs out, you’ll be glad you did. And, as an extra incentive, once you’ve registered the device Sonicare will send you coupons.

Keep your Li-Ion battery healthy by… it’s complicated, okay?

Unlike some older models (like the Sonicare Essence) that use Ni-ML batteries, the Li-Ion batteries Sonicare HealthyWhite uses don’t need to be discharged to prolong their battery life. In fact, letting them run down completely is bad for their health. The problem is, keeping Li-Ion batteries at full charge isn’t necessarily good for them, either. Excessive heat (even from a wireless charger) can also contribute to reduced battery functioning.

The Sonicare HealthyWhite uses a simple LED indicator to tell you its current battery strength. If the light is solid, it’s above 50% charge. If it’s blinking, it’s below 50%.

To improve your battery performance, keep the cradle unplugged until the blinking light tells you your toothbrush has hit the 50% mark.

“Clean and White” mode, the Sonicare HealthyWhite’s much-lauded “whitening” feature, is an extra 30 seconds of brushing time broken into two 15-second increments. That extra time is meant to allow users to focus their energies on their front teeth, creating a whiter, cleaner appearance.

That’s it.

Does it work? Some online reviewers swear by it, while others claim to have used the brush for years without noticing a difference.

What does everyone else think?

Amazon.com’s customer rating for this toothbrush is 4.4 out of 5 stars. Click here to read the customer reviews.

Conclusion

This is a quality mid-range toothbrush. It’s a steal at the price (not much more than the Essence 5600) and it delivers on its promise of cleaner teeth with all the conveniences of a modern brush design. I’m still not 100% sold on the “Clean and White” setting’s innate whitening abilities, but I still consider it a solid alternative to the more expensive and more complicated Sonicare Flexcare R910.

Remember, if you want the model that includes the “Sensitive” setting for sensitive teeth and gums, you want the HealthyWhite R732 instead.

Obligatory note on packaging

If you do decide to buy this product on Amazon.com it’s important to understand what “Amazon Frustration-Free” packaging means. You will receive your Sonicare HealthyWhite 710 in a cardboard Amazon box, with none of the original packaging. This makes it considerably easier to open (and recyclable), but much harder to wrap. If you’re buying this toothbrush as a gift, be sure to select the “Retail” option instead.